On 12 April 2023, Mr. Ma Xingrui, Secretary of CPC Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Mr. Erkin Tuniyaz, Chairman of the Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, met with H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), H.E. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Ambassador of Thailand to China, and the delegation in Urumqi, who came to Xinjiang to hold the “Lecture Series on ASEAN-China Relations”. Mr. Zhang Chunlin, Deputy Party Secretary of Xinjiang, Mr. Chen Weijun, Executive Vice Chairman of the Government of Xinjiang, and officials in charge of relevant departments of the CPC Committee and Government of Xinjiang attended the meeting.

Secretary Ma Xingrui welcomed SG Shi Zhongjun and Ambassador Arthayudh Srisamoot to Xinjiang, appreciated their efforts to deepen cooperation, and briefed on Xinjiang’s socio-economic development. He stated that Xinjiang is opening up at a faster pace to broaden and deepen the scope and areas of cooperation. He expressed the willingness to make joint efforts with Thailand to actively implement the important consensus reached by leaders of China and Thailand, deepen cooperation with Thailand in various fields with a focus on building the Belt and Road together, deepen practical economic and trade cooperation, continue enhancing cultural exchanges and expand the space for mutually beneficial development, so as to contribute to the building of China-Thailand community with shared future. He hopes that the ACC will actively build bridges and ties for Xinjiang to deepen cooperation with ASEAN Member States (AMS) and provide assistance and support.

Ambassador Arthayudh Srisamoot said that the delegation conducted friendly and pleasant visits to multiple places in Xinjiang and were impressed by Xinjiang's unity and cultural diversity. With unique geographical advantages, Xinjiang is at the core of the Silk Road Economic Belt, being China’s gateway to the west, and there are large space and potential for exchanges and cooperation between Xinjiang and AMS including Thailand. Thailand is willing to strengthen cooperation with Xinjiang in such areas as modern agriculture, culture, tourism, clean energy, and oil and gas, and achieve more fruitful outcomes.

SG Shi Zhongjun briefed on the ACC’s work and the vision for enhanced cooperation between AMS including Thailand and Xinjiang. He said that the ACC is willing to further its role as a bridge in organising friendly visits and trade and investment promotion activities for relevant AMS institutions and personnel to Xinjiang, and accelerate exchanges and cooperation in such fields as education, media, green agriculture and environmental protection, actively telling Xinjiang stories well to the people of AMS. The ACC will redouble efforts to deepen cooperation between AMS and Xinjiang in multiple fields, so as to add more substance to the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Between April 9 to 13, the ACC invited the Thai Ambassador to China to visit Xinjiang and hold the “Lecture Series on ASEAN-China Relations” at Xinjiang University. The delegation toured “The Fight against Terrorism and Extremism in Xinjiang Exhibition” and inspected Urumqi’s unique tourism resources.

The delegation visited the Hall of Conservation and Comprehensive Management of Kashgar Old Town, Kashgar Old City, Kashgar Comprehensive Bonded Zone, Kashgar University, Shufu County Folk Music Instrument Village, and Id Kah Mosque. They exchanged ideas with local government officials on deepening exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, education, culture, and tourism between Thailand and the Kashgar region of Xinjiang.

The delegation also inspected Turpan, visited the Turpan Museum, and exchanged ideas with local government officials on deepening agricultural, cultural, and tourism cooperation between Thailand and Turpan.

Ambassador Arthayudh also gave interviews to local media including Xinjiang Daily and Xinjiang Broadcast Network.